DoD Instruction 6055.15, May 4, 2007

1 Department of Defense Instruction NUMBER May 4, 2007 USD(AT&L) SUBJECT: DoD Laser Protection Program References: (a) DoD Instruction , DoD Safety and Occupational Health (SOH) Program, August 19, 1998 (b) DoD Directive , Environment, Safety, and Occupational Health (ESOH), March 19, 2005 (c) Exemption No. 76EL-01 DOD, Letter of Exemption from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for DoD Exemption from Provisions of 21 CFR 1040, July 29, 19761 (d) Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Parts 1040, , and (e) through (m), see Enclosure 1 1. PURPOSE This Instruction : Implements policy, assigns responsibilities, and describes procedures in support of References (a) and (b) for DoD laser protection.

2 Establishes the DoD Laser Systems Safety Working Group (LSSWG), the Tri-Service Laser Injury Hotline, and the Laser Accident and Incident Registry. 2. APPLICABILITY AND SCOPE This Instruction applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military Departments, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the Department of Defense (hereafter referred to collectively as the DoD Components ). 1 Available at DoDI , May 4, 2007 This Instruction does not apply to personnel who, as patients, are exposed to laser radiation as part of diagnostic or therapeutic procedures for medical and dental treatment.

3 3. DEFINITIONS DoD Exempt Lasers. Laser products specifically exempted by the FDA (Exemption No. 76EL-01 DOD (Reference (c)) from the DoD-specified elements of part 1040 of title 21 CFR (Reference (d)) due to mission need. To be declared as DoD exempt, a military laser product must be for use in combat, combat training, or classified in the interest of national security. Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE). The level of laser radiation to which a person may be exposed without known hazardous effects or adverse biological changes in the eye or skin per American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard (Reference (e)). The MPEs may be obtained from each Service s functional area expert identified in paragraph 4 of Enclosure 2. 4.)

4 POLICY In accordance with Reference (b), it is DoD policy to: Protect DoD personnel from accidental death, injury, or occupational illness. Protect the public from risk of death, injury, illness, or property damage because of DoD activities. 5. RESPONSIBLITIES The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (USD(AT&L)) shall implement this Instruction during all phases of the acquisition of laser equipment or the laser system life cycle, including planning, design, procurement, testing, installation, operation, maintenance, training, and reuse or disposal. The Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment (DUSD(I&E)), under the USD(AT&L), shall: Establish, as an integral element of the Safety and Occupational Health (SOH) Committee (Reference (a)), the DoD LSSWG to provide guidance and recommend policy on laser safety and health matters within the Department of Defense.

5 Oversee the implementation of this Instruction and represent the Secretary of Defense on both internal and interagency laser safety and health matters. DoDI , May 4, 2007 The Heads of the DoD Components that own and operate lasers shall: Establish and maintain a laser protection program that conforms to the requirements and procedures in this Instruction . Ensure that particular emphasis is placed on laser injury prevention education and reporting incidents/accidents. Appoint functional area experts on laser health and safety issues to the DoD LSSWG. Establish unique health, safety, and surveillance programs for directed energy systems to protect personnel and equipment. Establish a Service-specific laser safety review process to provide a systems safety review of all lasers used in combat, combat training or classified in the interest of national security, and all Class 1M, 2M, 3B or 4 lasers.

6 Provide an update of the laser protection program to DUSD(I&E) as part of the SOH Program in-progress review requirements of Reference (a). The Secretary of the Air Force shall establish, administer and maintain the Tri-Service Laser Injury Hotline (1-800-473-3549 or DSN 240-4784) to provide immediate expert medical advice in the event of an injury or suspected injury to DoD personnel from lasers. The Secretary of the Army shall establish, administer and maintain the Laser Accident and Incident Registry for DoD Components and analyze data for use in laser safety, protection, and treatment programs. The DoD LSSWG shall: Provide laser safety and health technical advice to the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environment, Safety, and Occupational Health (ADUSD(ESOH)), under the DUSD(I&E).

7 Include representatives from the Office of the DUSD(I&E) and the Military Departments. Establish guidelines to govern the operation of the LSSWG and procedures for selecting and rotating the Chair. Meet at the call of the Chair to share information, discuss items of mutual interest, and recommend policies through the Director for Environmental Readiness and Safety (ER&S) to the ADUSD(ESOH). DoDI , May 4, 2007 Act as a technical liaison body to interact with international, Federal, and state regulatory and advisory agencies on issues related to occupational and environmental exposure to lasers. Coordinate with NATO Standardization Agencies involved in laser safety and health issues. Appoint a Joint Services Evaluation Subgroup (JSES) from within the LSSWG to: Facilitate a forum for joint DoD agency measurement protocols and hazard evaluation reporting.

8 Evaluate laser systems and share evaluations with the DoD Components when an evaluation may be used by more than one DoD Component. Submit an annual report with a work plan to the Director for ER&S. 6. PROCEDURES Standards Non-Exempt Laser Systems. Comply with parts and of Reference (d) when using non-exempt laser systems. DoD Exempt Lasers Prior to procurement of DoD Exempt Lasers, ensure the laser manufacturers understand they are responsible for requesting the exemption from the DoD Component in accordance with Reference (c), FDA Laser Notice 52, and the amendment to exemption (References (f) and (g)). Provide notice of DoD exemption to the laser manufacturers. A sample exemption notice is provided as Enclosure 2.

9 Ensure that DoD Exempt Lasers comply with part 1040 of Reference (d) except when it is in conflict with the intended mission. Specify alternate controls to eliminate or control hazards by applying the system safety order of precedence for hazard control as defined in Military Standard 882D (Reference (h)). Education. Train personnel in laser hazards and specific operational and safety procedures commensurate with their duties prior to operations where exposure over the MPE could occur. Medical Surveillance. Maintain an occupational medical surveillance program for laser personnel in accordance with DoD (Reference (i)). DoDI , May 4, 2007 Accident and Incident Response Develop procedures to report incidents involving suspected or known exposures to laser radiation above the MPE.

10 Include measurements or analysis to determine exposure levels and appropriate medical service, medical surveillance, and a description of circumstances surrounding the event. Call the Tri-Service Laser Injury Hotline (1-800-473-3549 or DSN 240-4784) for immediate expert medical advice. Submit incident and accident reports through DoD Component channels to the Laser Accident and Incident Registry ( Army Medical Research Detachment, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research). These reports do not replace established safety investigation procedures or other Service-specific notification procedures. Inventory Control For non-exempt laser products, ensure that the labeling requirements of part 1040 of Reference (d) are met. Account for, appropriately label, and properly dispose of DoD exempt lasers in accordance with References (c), (g), and ANSI Standard (Reference (j)).